Multiband RDS radio receiver

ABSTRACT

A radio receiver having an FM band tuner, an AM band tuner, a controller coupled to both said tuners, and a radio data (RD) decoder for providing radio data. The RD decoder is coupled for receiving radio data from at least one of the tuners which is tuned to a radio program. The RD decoder is coupled to the controller for switching the radio receiver from FM band to AM band or vice versa based on radio program frequency correspondence data included in the radio data. The radio receiver is advantageous since it allows for automated cross switching between different frequencies whereon a same radio program is broadcast. This is particularly advantageous if the radio receiver, such as placed in a car, leaves the broadcast coverage area. User intervention is thus obviated.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

This application claims priority to European Application No. 02013402.9which was filed on Jun. 12, 2002, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a radio receiver and to a portable orcar radio receiver provided with a radio receiver and to signals suitedfor use in such a radio receiver.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A radio receiver system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,320. Theconventional receiver may comprise an FM band and an AM band tuner, acontroller/processor coupled to both said tuners, and a radio data (RD)decoder for providing radio data, which RD decoder is coupled forreceiving radio data from at least one of the tuners, which is tuned toa radio program. In a so called “snapshot” function, both the AM and FMsignal bands are searched to determine what program frequencies arereceivable thereby, and all such receivable program frequencies arestored under appropriate program types. Examples of program types are:jazz, country, news, rock, nostalgia, sports, big band, 50's, 60's, 70'sand the like. Through a user interface the user may select a preferredprogram type, where after the user may further select pre-set receivingfrequencies, whereupon these types of programs are transmitted bydifferent radio program broadcasts.

It is a disadvantage of the conventional radio receiver that userintervention for renewed tuning of the receiver is still required everytime the received signal of a wanted particular radio program faintsaway. That is, in case the distance between the transmitter and thereceiver becomes too large, and the receiver leaves the broadcastcoverage area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an easy operated radio receiver requiringless handling and under driving conditions potentially dangerous userintervention.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is a radio receiver, and inparticular, a radio receiver comprising an FM band tuner and an AM bandtuner, a controller coupled to both of the tuners, and a radio data (RD)decoder for providing radio data, which RD decoder is coupled forreceiving radio data from at least one of the tuners, which is tuned toa radio program.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to a portable or car radioreceiver provided with such a radio receiver, and to signals suited foruse in such a radio receiver.

The radio receiver according to one aspect of the invention disclosesthe RD decoder coupled to the controller for switching the radioreceiver from FM band to AM band or vice versa based on radio programfrequency correspondence data included in the radio data.

One advantage of the radio receiver according to the invention is thatit allows for automatic cross switching between different frequencieswhere a same radio program is broadcast. This is particularlyadvantageous if the radio receiver, for example placed in a car, leavesthe broadcast coverage area. User intervention is thus obviated.

Even if radio programs in the AM band are not accompanied by radio data(RD) or radio data service (RDS), the radio program's name listened toin the AM band can still be provided to a user—such as by display on avisual display—because the program name can be derived from the radiodata of the same radio program transmitted on an associated frequency inthe FM band.

An embodiment of the radio receiver according to the invention providesthat the FM band tuner is a LW band, and/or MW band tuner.

One advantage of this embodiment is that depending on the area coveredby the transmitter where the program is broadcast, an automaticswitching preferably at the boundary of the area between differentfrequency bands is possible. If no radio data is provided on LW, and/orMW band, use can be made of radio data provided on FM about thecorrespondence between frequencies on the different bands whereon aparticular radio program broadcasts.

In another embodiment of the radio receiver according to the invention,the controller is arranged for switching from FM band to LW band, or MWband and vice versa. This makes a switching between FM and LW, FM andMW, and LW and MW bands, and vice versa, possible.

In still another embodiment of the radio receiver according to theinvention, the radio receiver comprises an RD memory coupled to the RDdecoder, which memory at least contains radio program frequencyconcordance data.

Another advantage of this embodiment of the radio receiver according tothe invention is, that while stationed in an area where radio data istransmitted to the receiver, the RD memory can be filled withconcordance information respecting associated frequencies in differentfrequency bands broadcasting the same radio program. In this way, theinformation already stored in the RD memory can advantageously be usedlater, such as in cases wherein the receiver is stationed in anotherarea without radio data coverage.

In yet another embodiment of the radio receiver according to theinvention, the FM and AM tuners are capable of providing an audioquality signal for input to and qualification by the controller. Thecontroller is then capable of selecting the tuner providing the highestaudio quality of a user selected radio program concerned.

In order to improve a trouble free operation, it is preferred to have aradio receiver according to the invention, wherein the radio receiver isprovided with a cancellation switch coupled to the controller for cases,and the actual radio program frequency is used or disturbed by anotherprogram.

In one preferred embodiment, the radio receiver is included in aportable or car radio receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described below, with reference being made to thedrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a radio receiver inaccordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a radio receiver 1.The radio receiver 1 comprises a controller coupled to two tunersembodied by a FM band tuner 3 and an AM band tuner 4. The controller 2is preferably embodied by a processor, such as a microprocessor. Each orboth tuners 3 and 4 may be selected by the controller 2 to handle one ormore received antennae signals. One of the received signals from a tunedon radio program is properly signal processed, decoded and amplified ina unit 5 and fed to one or more loudspeakers 6. If one or more of thetuners 3 and 4 is tuned to a radio program which provides accompanyingradio data, such data may be decoded by a RD decoder 7 and be displayedon a visual display 8. The proper control, tuning and the like of theradio receiver 1 by a user is schematically embodied by a user interface9. A radio program broadcast on the FM band may be accompanied by radiodata, such as radio data service (RDS) information. The same isgenerally not the case for radio programs sent in AM band, such as LW,MW and SW band. If the controller 2 senses based on audio qualitysignals provided by the tuners 3 and 4, that the quality of a radioprogram broadcast in FM band diminishes, it may decide to switch to theAM tuner 4 to decode the same radio program broadcast on a frequency inone of the AM bands. The necessary frequency concordance information isderived from radio data received from the radio program concerned in theFM band. The radio data can also be retrieved from an RD memory 10 whichcoupled to the RD decoder 7. Conversely, the controller 2 is arranged tosense that a switching from one of the AM bands to FM band is necessaryin order to maintain a minimum desired audio quality of a radio program.When necessary, the appropriate RD information can be retrieved from theRD memory 10. This is because during a previous presence within the FMband area covered by the radio program concerned the relevant RDinformation is already stored in the memory 10. This information canthereafter be used to switch back from LW, MW and/or SW to the proper FMband frequency of the radio program.

Alternatively, the AM band tuner 4 may include an additional FM bandtuner. The presence of such an additional FM band tuner eases theregular monitoring of the FM band for a FM frequency, whereupon thecurrent radio program listened to on one of the AM bands, is alsobroadcast. The radio receiver 1 will switch back to FM band as soon asthe audio quality on FM is sufficiently available again.

The radio receiver 1 can be provided with a cancellation switch 11coupled to the controller 2 for cases wherein the actual radio programfrequency is used or disturbed by another program. Activating the switch11 will result in searching for another available frequency forreceiving the same radio program.

The above has been described with reference to essentially preferredembodiments and best possible modes. It will be understood that theseembodiments are by no means to be construed as limiting examples of thereceiver embodiments concerned, because various modifications, featuresand combination of features falling within the scope of the appendedclaims are now within reach of the skilled person.

1. A radio receiver, comprising: an FM band tuner; an AM band tuner; acontroller coupled to both the FM band tuner and the AM band tuner; anda radio data decoder for providing radio data, where the radio datadecoder is coupled for receiving radio data from at least one of thetuners which is tuned to a radio program, wherein the radio receivercomprises an radio data memory coupled to the radio data decoder, wherethe memory at least contains radio program frequency correspondencedata, the radio receiver is designed to store radio program frequencycorrespondence data in the memory during presence in the FM band and touse the radio program frequency correspondence data later for switchingback from the AM band, and the radio data decoder is coupled to thecontroller for automatically switching the radio receiver from the FMband to the AM band or vice versa based on the radio program frequencycorrespondence data included in the radio data, wherein a same radioprogram is broadcast on both the FM and AM bands.
 2. The radio receiveraccording to claim 1, wherein the AM band tuner is at least one of an LWband and an MW band tuner.
 3. The radio receiver according to claim 2,wherein the controller is arranged for switching from the FM band to theLW band, or the MW band and vice versa.
 4. The radio receiver accordingto claim 1, wherein both the FM and AM tuners are capable of providingan audio quality signal for input to and qualification by thecontroller.
 5. The radio receiver according to claim 1, wherein theradio receiver is provided with a cancellation switch coupled to thecontroller for cases wherein the actual radio program frequency is usedor disturbed by another program.
 6. A portable or car radio receiverprovided with a radio receiver, the receiver comprising: an FM bandtuner; an AM band tuner; a controller coupled to both the FM band tunerand the AM band tuner; and a radio data decoder for providing radiodata, the radio data decoder being coupled for receiving radio data fromat least one of the tuners which is tuned to a radio program, whereinthe radio receiver comprises an radio data memory coupled to the radiodata decoder, which memory at least contains radio program frequencycorrespondence data, the radio receiver is designed to store radioprogram frequency correspondence data in the memory during presence inthe FM band and to use the radio program frequency correspondence datalater for switching back from the AM band, and the RD decoder is coupledto the controller for automatically switching the radio receiver from FMband to AM band or vice versa based on radio program frequencycorrespondence data included in the radio data, wherein a same radioprogram is broadcast on both the FM and AM bands.